g-f(2)2865 Beyond Plans: Elevating Strategy to the Business Level

 

genioux Fact post by Fernando Machuca and Gemini

Introduction

In the Harvard Business Review article "Keep Strategy Simple," Graham Kenny addresses the common confusion between strategy and execution within organizations. This lack of clarity leads to misallocation of resources and ineffective strategic planning. The article offers practical advice on how to create and maintain a simple yet powerful strategy.

genioux GK Nugget

"Strategy is about positioning, not action. It's about where your organization stands concerning its stakeholders and competitors." — Fernando Machuca and Gemini, September 8, 2024

genioux Foundational Fact

The core issue lies in the blurred lines between strategy formulation and execution. Many organizations develop strategic plans for functions that require operational plans while neglecting to create strategic plans at the business level. This results in a focus on action instead of positioning, hindering the development of a clear and effective strategy.

The 10 most relevant genioux Facts:

1. Strategic Plans for Functions: Avoid creating strategic plans for functions like Marketing or HR. These are operational areas that require action plans, not strategic ones.
2. Confine Strategy to the Business Level: Strategy should be focused on the overall business, not individual departments. It involves defining the company's position in the market.
3. Separation of Strategy and Action: Strategy and action are distinct. Strategy defines the positioning, while action outlines the steps to achieve it.
4. Helicopter View: Take a broad perspective of your organization and its relationship with stakeholders and competitors to develop an effective strategy.
5. Change in Language: Use terms like "customer strategy" and "employee strategy" instead of "marketing strategy" and "HR strategy" to shift the focus outward.
6. Mind Your Language: Language influences thought and behavior. Avoid using terms like "IT strategic plan," as plans are operational, not strategic.
7. Outside vs. Inside: Remember that strategy is about the external environment (stakeholders, competitors), while action is about internal operations.
8. Focus on Stakeholders: Ditch terms like "marketing strategy" and replace them with "customer strategy" to emphasize the importance of external stakeholders.
9. Plans are Operational: Avoid labeling plans as strategic, as this can lead to neglecting the effort required for true strategic planning.
10. Strategy is About Positioning: The key takeaway is that strategy is about identifying your organization's position to satisfy stakeholder needs, which is an outward-looking exercise.

Conclusion

Creating a simple and effective strategy requires clarity and focus. By avoiding common pitfalls like developing strategic plans for functions and conflating strategy with action, organizations can establish a clear strategic direction. Remember that strategy is about positioning and satisfying stakeholder needs, while action is about the internal steps to achieve that position. By adopting this mindset and using appropriate language, organizations can develop and execute strategies that lead to success.

REFERENCES

The g-f GK Context

Graham Kenny, Keep Strategy Simple, Harvard Business Review, August 27, 2024. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Graham Kenny is the CEO of Strategic Factors and the author of Strategy Discovery. He is a recognized expert in strategy and performance measurement who helps managers, executives, and boards create successful organizations in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. He has been a professor of management at universities in the U.S. and Canada.

Classical Summary of the Article: 

In the Harvard Business Review article "Keep Strategy Simple," Graham Kenny emphasizes the importance of clarity and simplicity in strategic planning. He addresses the common confusion between strategy and execution within organizations, highlighting the tendency to develop strategic plans for functions requiring operational plans, neglecting strategic planning at the business level.

The article stresses the distinction between strategy and action. The strategy involves positioning the company concerning its stakeholders and competitors, while action encompasses the steps taken to achieve that position. To develop an effective strategy, organizations need to adopt a helicopter view, considering their relationships with key stakeholders and competitors.

Kenny advocates for a change in language to reinforce a strategic mindset, suggesting the use of terms like "customer strategy" and "employee strategy" instead of "marketing strategy" and "HR strategy." He also cautions against labeling plans as strategic, as this can lead to neglecting true strategic efforts.

The core message of the article is that strategy is about identifying where the organization needs to go to satisfy its stakeholders' needs. It's an outward-looking exercise that focuses on positioning, while action concerns the internal steps to achieve that position. By maintaining this distinction and adopting a clear, simple approach to strategy, organizations can increase their chances of success.

Graham Kenny

Graham Kenny is an internationally recognized expert in strategy and performance measurement. He is the CEO of Strategic Factors, a consultancy firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement effective strategies⁴. 

Dr. Kenny holds a PhD and Master's degrees in Management, as well as a first degree in Engineering⁴. He has served as a Professor of Management in universities in the U.S. and Canada, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience with students and professionals alike⁴.

As an author, Graham Kenny has made significant contributions to the field of strategy with his book "Strategy Discovery: Achieving Business Resilience, Engagement, and Performance". His work emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-evolving business landscape¹.

Dr. Kenny is passionate about helping managers and organizations navigate the complexities of strategy and performance measurement, making him a sought-after consultant and speaker in the field⁴.

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 9/8/2024

(1) Presenter - Strategic Factors. https://strategicfactors.com/presenter/.

(2) Graham Kenny: books, biography, latest update - amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Graham%20Kenny/author/B002BLV10O.

(3) Kenny Graham (American football) - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Graham_%28American_football%29.

(4) Kenny Graham - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Graham.

(5) Kenny Graham Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards - TV Guide. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/kenny-graham/bio/3000340939/.

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Categorization

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Type: Bombshell Knowledge, Free Speech

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